Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-20

is sure to try to have go at them sooner
or later. A gun may also be fired now
and then to see if the double temptation
of fire and gun will lead him astray.
Practically, however, not one covert
spaniel IN a thousand drops to gun and
to fire. Most people are very well salts
fed if the dog simply desists from going
more than yard or two, or if ne stands
still when the gun is fired. 1 have seen
some of the best dogs in covert, and |
have never observed anything of the sort.
It should be borne In mind that it does
not matter what the breed or size of the
dog may be, breaking them perfectly
takes as much trouble. All! if broken
dogs were only sold by the yard, or by
the square inch, then | could understand
that pointer or setter should fetch more
money than climber of Sussex, and
especially a cocker. But they are not so
sold, and as a nlattar of fact it would take
just as long to teach a cocker to drop to
hand, wing, fire, and shoot, as it would to
train the biggest pointer or setter
that ever ran. Therefore, why there
should be such a discrepancy IN their
prices, and In estimation in which thew
are generally held, is one of those things
which 70 one can understand. l know
some men who will readily give $3.50 and
5000 and more for good pointer and
setter, who will not give so or $50 for
cocker, and expect him to do every
thing but talk, as the old saying is.
Il should strongly impress the spaniel
breakers with the absolute desirability of
having the dogs perfectly secured liz
their kennels. If spaniels get lose and
start on hunt by themselves when they
are young, they acquire such vile habits
as will never be thoroughly eradicated.
They will hunt after rabbits, chase them
to ground, yapping all the while, an6 al
together will get so fearfully and pleas
urably excited as to long for further edi-
tions of the sport at any opportunity. A
self-hunting spaniel is an awful ab0min-
alton, and anyone may take 1t for grant
ed that he acquired the habit through
neglect and being allowed his liberty,
somehow, without anyone watching his
conduct Spaniels in covert sould not
notice far, but should only drive for five
Or six yards. And here comes the quest
ton, should the spaniel be mute? I say
he should not be quite mute, but he
should not keep on giving tongue. /
like dog to first open when he finds,
and put up, and that is all. A dog that
gives tongue noisiIy and persistently
is useless, but one absolutely mute in a
covert will not make you have all the
sport you ought to have. / like a dog
TO give me warning if possible, and fail
TO see, as some men assert, that it drives
all game away. 1t is simply nonsense.
have often in the woods shot seven
or eight pheasants within square of, say
fifty Or sixty yards In furse and fern
brakes, and they were put up one after
another by a brace of cookers who called
out when they found them, and put them
up. Then if dogs voices are so disturb
ing to game, as some people would make
US believe, why did not the six or seven
last birds go when they heard the dogs
talking to the first? The fact is some
men get so awful nervous that the slight
est noise upsets them, and if they happen
to miss-well, then, they scold the dogs
heartily, just as if it was the dogs fault.
L know when a man is not a shot the dogs
are always at fault, and if not the dogs
it is the sun in their eyes, or, a bug bit
them just then on the nose, or, the ground
was slippery, or, their coats do not fit, or,
the whisky over night, and so on, but it is
generally the dogs fault! 1t is never, by
any fuke, the shooters fault. Oh, DEAR
no.
Now, [ say that steady dog who opens
on flushing, does a deal of good, because
he drops all pheasants within hearing.
Of course, if you do not at once beat
your ground, they will trot naturally
enough-at least that is my experience. l
have seen birds on the move mile ahead
OF heaters, but they take dogs far more
cody If they are steady and well broken.
In fact, to me shooting in covert with
heaters is waste ef good stuff, and those
who wish to enjoy 1T really and truly
should try dogs. 1 will warrant they will
never resort to biped assistance.
Seven Ways of Marrying.
Brooklyn Magazine
There are seven separate and distinct
ways in which the nuptial knot may be
tied, and the attending expense of the
different modes varying from ore dollar
to one thousand dollars. The least ex-
pensive, and the one seldom adopted, ex-
cept in cases of elopement, is that afford
ed by the Justices Office. There couple
can be firmly united in tAe space of a
minute for small sum. 1t is customary
for groom to dress as he may please
when the marriage is to be performed
by justice, and a dress suit would be
sadly out of place in musty law Office.
The one great advantage of justice
shop marriage is its cheapness.
AS some people object to being
married by justice of tho peace, pre-
ferring the sanction of the church in adj
dition to that of the law, the young peo-
pie may visit a parsonage instead of a
Justices office with the same preparations.
The ceremony may be fully as informal
when performed at the minister's home,
the only difference being that $3, and,
better still, So or so, should be paid for
the service, although there is no fixed
sum charged.
The most popular ceremony among
people who do not class themselves as in
society" and among many who do, is a
quiet home wedding, where the bride is
attired in a suit of plain white or trav-